October Term 2016 · Docket 15-1204
Does the Constitution require bond hearings for long-term immigration detention?
the sides that brought the case seek periodic bond hearings. The government argues mandatory detention statutes control.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
General Gershengorn argued Congress intended mandatory detention for criminal aliens.
Mr. Arulanantham agreed length alone does not make detention unconstitutional.
Mr. Arulanantham stated the dispute is narrower than it appears.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 6-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether due process limits indefinite immigration detention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-40
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want periodic bond hearings to end indefinite detention.
The government wants to keep mandatory detention without time limits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue due process requires review of prolonged detention.
The government argues statutes mandate detention for specific criminal groups.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked which statute applies to unadmitted aliens.
Justice Ginsburg asked about aliens who fit neither statutory category.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 6-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of executive power over liberty. It determines whether individuals face indefinite confinement without judicial review. The outcome shapes the balance between national security and personal freedom.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 6-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 38-4
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.